The Mercedes team was on song before the summer break. The Silver Arrows went on to win three out of the last four races, retaining its elite team status. However, the performance disappeared after the summer break. As a result, the team appears to be at the center of numerous issues. At the same time, the technical team is still searching for answers.
Whether it’s a balance issue or tyre management, the Silver Arrows are struggling to cope with both challenges. Therefore, despite a podium finish in Azerbaijan, George Russell was infuriated with the performance. However, Mercedes chief has highlighted the core issue, which has been a source of trouble in humid and warm conditions.
Why Tyre Management Is Becoming A Major Challenge For Mercedes: Toto Wolff Breaks It Down
During a recent media interaction, Toto Wolff highlighted the unique challenge street circuits pose. He said the F1 convoy moves to Singapore for the second challenge of a doubleheader. However, Wolff acknowledged that a street circuit like Baku or Marina Bay is physically demanding for the team and its drivers. Further, the Mercedes chief emphasized the adverse impact of tropical heat, humidity, and bumps of a circuit on tire management. The Geman Marque’s inability to manage tyre temperature has been the biggest down point. Moreover, this is why the W15 struggles to perform consistently, often falling off pace at certain tracks. Therefore, safeguarding tyre from excessive heat is a major problem for the eighth-time constructors’ champions.
Moreover, despite a podium in Baku, Wolff claimed it was a lucky shot, as a last-minute crash helped the team. However, the Austrian executive is excited for the Singapore race, as Petronas will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Thus, the W15 will be seen in a one-off livery to commemorate this milestone.
Returning to the tyre degradation issue, it has been around the W15 since the beginning of the season. In April, Mercedes engineer James Allison highlighted the difficulty of tyre management in warmer conditions. The humidity warms up the tyre, and degrades rapidly. This also restricts the Brackley-based outfit from using a “one-stop” strategy. However, the team needs a permanent solution for this issue if it wants to finish higher on the Points Table.
Can The New Floor Solve Mercedes’ Misery?
The Mercedes squad has been puzzled by the floor upgrade. It has installed and scrapped a couple of floor setups but still hasn’t found the correct configuration. The Brackley-based squad had no option but to revert to the old floor. However, even that specification was of no help, as the W15 was severely off the pace.
Wolff has revealed that the team is working on a new floor upgrade while analyzing the data. This new floor could potentially be used from the Austin race onwards. Thus, all hope hinges on this one component, which could make or break Mercedes’ season.
